Portugal’s Azores Ride and Retreat

Itinerary #1: Green Island Trail

The itinerary for the Green Island Trail is flexible, so the itinerary below will give you an idea of what the week will look like during your stay. Riding is made up of three half day rides and three full day rides. The precise schedule is not set ahead of time as changes may be made according to the weather and local conditions.

Your week also includes two half-day excursions (sometimes these can be replaced by lessons or trail riding (surcharge applies and is payable onsite).

NOTE: The following is a description of the possible rides on offer during the week, they may not happen in the precise order listed below. On occasion, the picnic lunches may be replaced by lunch at a restaurant.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival to the island where you will be met at the airport (included) and brought to the estate.

Enjoy the chance to settle in, take a walk around the property and relax before your welcome dinner.

Day 2: Start of the Riding

Riding begins on your first morning where everyone will have an introduction to the horses and a one hour assessment lesson in the arena. This helps the team onsite to match you with the best horse for you for the rest of the week.

And then - in the afternoon you have the first of your fun and scenic half day rides!

Sub-Tropical Forest - Half Day Ride

This ride begins right from the estate and takes you past the high walls of the long established orange plantations. As you continue onward, you'll ride past agricultural fields and into the dense vegetation of what resembles a rainforest "jungle" - it's almost like being transported to a tropical destination - the variety of colors of all the flowers are breathtaking.

Peixe Assado to Calhetas (South Coast to North Coast) - Full Day Ride

The ride makes its way across the island to the North coast ending at the village of Calhetas. Today you will ride through lush green valleys, Azorean "jungle", small villages and enjoy some great views.

Lunch will be a picnic enroute and then later return to the estate for dinner.

Lameiro - Half Day Ride

The ride begins with the horses being transported across to the north coast. You will mount up and start the ride
close to the ocean, then ride up and over Pico da Multa, continuing through to the area of Gramas.

This is a pretty and gentle landscape and you have a lovely ride on old roads and along tracks with super views across the island.

Mid-island Remedios to Cabuco - Full Day Ride

Today - you begin in the opposite direction as the horses are transported to the south side of Sao Miguel. You will meet them at the start of the trail, approximately a 35 minute drive.

The ride features small roads and lanes riding between fields and green pastures some with grazing cattle, who are waiting for the farmers to come and gather them for milking.

Lunch is a lovely picnic in Remedios before you mount back up and continue to ride to Cabuco, climbing uphill and (weather permitting) enjoying the beautiful views towards Ponta Delgada and the coast.

You are likely to see many more cattle and also farmers travelling out to the fields to their mobile milking machines.

Livramento and Mata Santa - Half Day Ride

Leaving straight from the estate again today, you ride over fields and on roads to the area of Socas. The ride continues into the lush green forest of "Mata Santa" (Holy Wood), where you will see callas, eucalyptus, acacias and bay trees - the diversity is truly incredible.

In Santa Mata, you pass the burial site of Lapinha, the guardian saint for the animals.

Sete Cidades - Full Day

Sete Cidades, a green, fairy-tale crater with its twin lakes, is almost ten miles in circumference. This extinct volcano crater has two magnificent lakes, one a deep cerulean blue color and the other turquoise emerald green. A legend tells the story of a princess and a shepherd boy who fell in love but were forbidden to meet. She had blue eyes, he had green eyes, and when they met for the last time they cried so much their tears formed the lakes.

You have a full day ride, first on the south rim of this huge volcanic crater and then descending to the twin lakes in the basin. There are opportunities for some canters along the tracks around the lake shore.

Picnic or lunch at a restaurant.

Please note that trotting and cantering on the crater rim is not permitted due to the number of walkers on the road. You may be required to dismount and lead your horse downhill on some sections.

There are two non-riding excursions during the week, as follows:

On one afternoon you travel by car to visit Lagoa do Fogo - an enormous lake surrounded by igneous vegetation located in the crater of an extinct volcano (Fire Lake) and Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. This thermal bath was established in 1811 and there is time for a soothing bath. After which, you continue on to visit the Gorreana tea plantation.

On another morning or afternoon you could choose to go whale watching or to visit Ponta Delgada. Ponta Delgada has interesting old churches to visit or you may prefer to wander through the markets and see the colorful array of fruits and vegetables. Sao Miguel is a large producer of pineapples.

Additional Excursion (not included):

A whale and dolphin watching trip (payable locally) is a highlight for many. The Azores is one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins. The trips have a 95% record of seeing dolphins and around a 50% chance of seeing whales. Either way, it’s a really exciting boat trip!

Departure

.Check-out from your room is at 12:00PM. If you are on a late flight and planning to go to the beach or to Ponta
Delgada for the day then you may be asked to check out of your room before you go. There are no bathroom facilities available if you opt to stay past check out time, however you are able to enjoy lunch, payable onsite.

Itinerary #2: Pleasure Week

This week is a lighter week with half day rides and 1 full day ride as well as excursions.

This is very suited for riders who want to ride a bit less and explore Sao Miguel a bit more.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival to the island where you will be met at the airport (included) and brought to the estate.

Enjoy the chance to settle in, take a walk around the property and relax before your welcome dinner.

Day 2: Start of the Riding

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before your 1 hour riding lesson (a lovely chance to get to know your horse). Afterward, relax until lunch is served.

Mounting back up for your first official trail ride this afternoon you will wander through the village and along fantastic stone walls, which are ease to look over from the back of your horse. Passing pastures with milking cows, you'll ride up to what almost seems to be a rainforest "jungle" before heading back to the estate.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Riding

Breakfast again on the estate and then a lovely half day ride in Remedios on the south side of Lagoa do Fogo. You will ride on small roads and over open pastures. A large part of the ride is on fields with milking cows.

From the green pastures you have nice views over the middle part of Sao Miguel - the views are absolutely lovely - before you enjoy your lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Excursion (no riding)

Excursion by car with a guide to the fantastic crater of Furnas. Furnas is an area of volcanic activity and general natural beauty in the center of Sao Miguel. You will visit the amazing botanical garden of Terra Nostra where you also will have the chance for a swim in a warm natural pool with water temperatures between 34-37C (93-98F) degrees (bring your suit!. It's a treat to drink sparkling mineral water directly from the spring!

Lunch in Furnas before returning back to the estate.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Excursion and Riding

After breakfast you will visit Ponta Delgada - perfect for shopping or a whale and dolphin safari (extra fee) before you break for lunch.

In the afternoon, you'll enjoy a ride that offers a bit of everything including fun canters. We start the ride close to the ocean, then up and over the hill Pico da Multa, continuing through the village of Gramas and we finish close to Ribeira Grande before returning back to the estate.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Excursion and Riding

After breakfast, you will leave by car to visit one of the most spectacular places on the island. Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake), at the top of the mountain we look down in the crater of an extinct volcano to see the enormous crystalline lake. Bring your suit again today as you can again enjoy a thermal bath. This excursion also includes a visit to Gorreana tea plantation.

After lunch, you will ride from the estate through the village of Livramento on small roads between the old high stone walls. You'll continue up to the area of Peixe Assado and into the lush greenery. Here among other things, you'll find callas, eucalyptus, acacias and bay leaf trees. The pinnacle of the climb is to a viewpoint that overlooks the north side of Sao Miguel - magnificent.......

Dinner and overnight back at the estate.

Day 7: Full Day Ride

An unforgettable day, it is like riding in a fairytale landscape. After breakfast, you mount up and ride along the volcano crater rim overlooking the twin lakes on one side and the ocean on the other. The tranquility of the waters and the scent of the Hydrangeas, which border the crater rim, contrast with the steep sides of the crater, creating a truly unique and fascinating sight.

The ride continues down into the crater to the small and picturesque village of Sete Cidades and the Green and the Blue lakes before stopping for lunch at a restaurant in Sete Cidades and then returning back to the estate.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Departure

Depart after breakfast.